Lincoln a



(No Model.)

L. A. MERRIAM.

AMALGAMATOR. I No. 252,051. Patented Jam-10,1882

minedurea' [nI/enfm' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ LINCOLN A. MERRIAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 252,051, dated January 10, 1882.

Application filed October 8, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINCOLN A. MERRIAM, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting the Precious Metals by the Quicksilverlrocess, of which the followin g is a specification.

The invention relates to atnalgamators for mixing quicksilver with ores for the purpose of extracting from them the precious metals. The processesheretofore resorted to have been operated upon the theory that in the agitation of the ore over the quicksilver the metals would settle upon and be taken up by it. To an extent this is true; but it is found that a considerable per cent. still passes off with the ore, to the great loss of the operator. Efforts havealso been made to mix the ores and quicksilver but on account of the great specific gravity of the quicksilver and its mobility the result has been thus far unsatisfactory.

The object of my invention is an apparatus by which the ore is inducted into the amalgamator with precision and certainty and retained and thoroughly mixed with the quicksilver in its passage upward through it.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows, in vertical section, the amalgamator. Fig. 2 is a crosssection.

B is an induction-pipe, having the pistonvalves 66, the discharge-pipe b, the rotating mixer G, the gear 0, and the overflow a.

r is the connecting reciprocating rod work-.

ing the piston-valve c and moving in the hollow shaft of the mixer C.

To prevent packing, the 'ore'in B may be agitated, as in A, by a modification of O, or other suitable device.

w is one or more perforated flanges projecting internally in A, and A is separable at the joint 6.

The amalgainator A is charged with quicksilver, and has an inverted siphon pipe, B, opening through its bottom for the passage of the ore. On entering A the ore is struck and scattered by G, and the flange or flanges 00 hold it in contact with the quicksilver until it graduallypasses upward through the openings and passes oftat a. U is rotated rapidly by means of the gear 0 or other suitable device.

Asluice may be placed under a to arrest py-i rites, or a screen may be used for that purpose, or at the induction end of the pipe B. The

enlargement of B from the level of the quicksilver tends to prevent packing, and also gives room for working the valve a, when needed, as auxiliary to gravity-pressure of the pulp or ore descending through the induction-pipe in effecting the passage of the ore. These pumpvalves may be constructed in any of the known ways.

To draw oft the amalgam for separating the metals, open the valve 12," which may be constructed in any of the known ways.

The suction piston containing the valve 0 is intended to operate as auxiliary to the gravity-pressure of the ore in thereceiviug end of the pipe B, and, by drawing it toward the amalgamator at thepoint where an obstruction might be forming, prevent a clogging that no mode or increase of pressure from above would remove; and the check-valve e is to prevent the movement of any substance in the amalgamator A upward through the pipe B. The amalgamator A may be open at the top and charged with quicksilver by pouring it in.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus for extracting the precious metals from their ores, the amalgamator A, having the cross-plates :r, the expanding induction pipe B, the check-valve e, and the mixer U, constructed,arranged,and operating in the manner and for the uses specified and shown.

2. In apparatus for extracting the precious metals from their ores, the amalgamator A, having the perforated plates w, the induction-pipe B, the mixer C, rotating on a hollow shaft, the piston-valve c, and the connecting reciprocating rod 1', constructed and operating in the manner and for the purposes shown and described.

3. In apparatus for extracting gold and silver from their ores, the amalgamator A, having the induction pipe B, the check valve 6, the piston-valve e, the connecting reciprocatiugrod r, and mixer G, rotating ona hollow shaft, arranged and operating in the manner and for the uses specified and described.

' 4.. In apparatus for amalgamating the prec'ious metals, the amalgamator A, separable at [0 w, the induction-pipe B, the check-valve e, the

mixer G, rotating on a hollow shaft, the piston-valve e, the connecting reciprocating rod 1, the overflow a, and pipe b, constructed and operating in the manner and for the uses substantiaily as set forth, specified, and shown.

LINCOLN A. MERRIAM.

Witnesses:

H. A. DANIELS, FRANK MARTIN. 

